Apple Confirms Tokyo Public Transit for iOS 10

Two days after my last post suggesting that Japanese public transit for Apple Maps would arrive with iOS 10, Apple confirmed it with a Japanese site refresh and debut of iOS 10/macOS Sierra/watchOS 3 information.

The iOS 10 preview page states that Apple Maps will add Japanese public transit service with the new OS releases this fall. The preview page also shows what the public transit view of Shinjuku station should look like. The current iOS 10 developer beta Maps app is a work in progress but already shows some features, such as station footprints, seen in the preview page image. The Japanese text also implies that the public transit rollout could include other cities and not just Tokyo.

Apple’s choice of agencies that provide Japanese map information, and the way Apple deploys it, has been a disaster so far. It will be interesting to see if the iOS 10 release will address any of those long standing problems while adding new services.

Look carefully and you can spot some coming improvements: detailed station footprints and much more local signage.Translation: Japanese public transportation is coming soon. In Maps you will be able to search for transfer info and compare fares. Maps will show you all train line and station information above and below ground including connecting passageways at all major stations.Update: added links to related blog posts.